Rihgt [sic] thoughts, the righteous mans evidence a discourse proving our state (God-ward) to be as our thoughts are, directing how to try them and our selves by them, propounding schemes of right thoughts, with motives and rules for keeping thoughts right : in two parts / by Faithful Teat.

Sect. III.

* 1.1LEt me freely tell thee, O Reader, (whosoever thou art) whose thoughts are not right, thine heart is but an hell, and thy thoughts are but so ma∣ny Devils, and worse then Devils to thee, for First,

* 1.2As Angels (the most Excellent of Gods Creatures) became odious Devils, by departing from God, so that our Thoughts (that in their own nature, are the Off-spring of the noble and most excellent Mind of man) should become Iniquity to us,* 1.3 and an abomi∣nation to God. This is from our evil heart of unbe∣lief, in departing from the living God.

* 1.4And as Devils for their nature, are called spiritual wickednesses, can enter into men ('tis said, Satan entered into Judas,) and fill their hearts (as in Ananias his case) why hath Satan filled thy heart? so also Evil thoughts are said to come into mens, minds, and fill their hearts; Inwardly they are full of rottenness (saith Christ.) And as Devils for their pride and power are called, spiritual wickednesses in high places, so also evil thoughts are said to be those high things that exalt themselves against God,* 1.5 and against Christ, (Casting down Ima∣ginations, and every high thing, &c. and bringing into captivity every thought of the heart, &c.

* 1.6And as Devils for their number made the possessed man cry out, My name is Legion, for we are many; so may Evil thoughts say, for these are called the abundance of the heart, Like the swarmes of Flyes in Aegypt, as if they were of Beelzebubs Army, who, by the Etymology of his name, is Lord of the Flyes, and by the account of the Pharasees, Prince of the Devils.

And as Devils for their agility,* 1.7 made answer to God (when he demanded, Satan, whence comest thou?) From going in the Earth to and fro,* 1.8 and from walking up and down in it; Just so may evil Thoughts say; for the wandring of the desire is by the Thoughts; they go where we cannot, Israelites in the Wilderness,* 1.9 yet in heart went back to Aegypt.

And as Devils for their Vigilancy,* 1.10 are said to walk about as roaring Lyons, which are stirring when we are sleeping, (as the Psalmist observes) Therefore saith the Apostle, be vigilant, so the worldlings thoughts are at work while himself is asleep, for as his dayes are sorrow, so his heart taketh not rest in the Night,* 1.11 for a dream comes through the multitude of business; And oh how often cause have we to be troubled, when we awake, for the Thoughts of our sleep,* 1.12 as Nebuchadnezzar was with his Thoughts in his sleep?

And Devils for disturbing in good Duties,* 1.13 are called the Fowls of the Air, that steal away the word; such are evil thoughts, and so do they; As when Hannah was a Praying, Elie's thoughts were running upon that, that was neither charitable nor true, (viz.) that she was drunk. And when Simon should have been minding what Christ was a saying, his Thoughts were wandring, He said within himself,* 1.14 if this man were a Prophet, he would have known who and what manner of Woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a sinner. Vain thoughts can dog us when and where vain company cannot come at us, even in our closest places and performances.

And as Devils are signalized for disturbing us in what is good, so for tempting to evil,* 1.15 (therefore Sa∣tan is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Tempter,) so every man is tempted (saith the Apostle) when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed; so that Evil Thoughts are

our Tempters as much as He, and we should belie the Devil should we say otherwise: for they have made ready their heart like an Oven,* 1.16 saith the Prophet; What though Satan bring the Fewel, yet men put it into the Oven, and stir it about by their own Thoughts, in their own hearts, so that if He, like a cunning Baker, seem to sleep all night, (as 'tis there expressed) yet he knows that they will tend it, and so look to it, that in the morning it shall burn like a flaming fire.

* 1.17And as Devils, when they have been Tempters, will be sure to be Accusers, (so that, as many men are called by such a name, Alias, such a name, so Sa∣tan is called Tempter,* 1.18 alias the Accuser) so also are Evil Thoughts, Their thoughts mean while accusing, &c. as the Apostle speaks.* 1.19

* 1.20And as Devils are Tormenters as well as Tempters and Accusers, so also the Thoughts of the damned shall be a principal part of their torment, Son, remember, &c. saith Abraham to Dives, that is, bethink thy self, &c.

And thus have we seen that Evil Thoughts are as bad as Devils;* 1.21 yea that they are worse then so, we shall now make appear in a few lines, and so con∣clude this head. And that.

* 1.22First in themselves, (in some respect) Let me tell thee, O Reader, that thy thoughts may be guilty of such a sin, as Satan himself is not, nay cannot be guil∣ty of;* 1.23 For saith the Psalmist, The Fool hath said in his heart, that there is no God; whereas the Apostle saith expresly,* 1.24 that the Devils believe and tremble. And Oh that we could tell how to bewail it suffici∣ently, that there should be more Atheisme in one heart upon Earth, nay in one thought, than in all the

Devils of Hell. We pitty others when possessed with Evil Spirits, how much more should we lament bit∣terly over our own selves when possessed with Evil thoughts, in some sort worse then the worst of spi∣rits.

II. As to those whose thoughts they are,* 1.25 For these are the Heifers wherewith Satan Ploweth, whose Temp∣tations could only di••turb••, not destroy us, If our Thoughts did not take them in (as the Trojans in the Story, the deceiptful Horse,) and make them ours; so that our Destruction is of our selves (as the Prophet speaks,* 1.26) for if Satan cannot know our Thoughts (with∣out us) much less can He force them; But as Christ saith in one place, You are of your Father the Devil,* 1.27 and his Lusts will ye do, so the Prophet saith in many places, that in and after the imaginations of their own hearts they do and will walk; So that as Christ saith, the Devil is the Father, the Apostle makes mans heart to be the Mother, which receives the Tempta∣tion; and Thought the Womb that Conceiveth and Hatcheth it, when he saith,* 1.28 Lust when it hath concei∣ved, brought forth sin, whereas were there a Cordial crying out, as by the forced Damosel in the Law,* 1.29 or the Apostle in the Gospel, Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me? God would lay the sin upon Satan, and not upon the Soul disturbed by, and afflicted with it.

Now then since Evil Thoughts are as so many Devils, and worse then Devils to us, let us dread them as we do the Devil; resist them as we ought to do Him, and Pray against them as we would against Him, and when they break into our hearts (which are such unruly and untamed Evils,) let us serve them as the People of a Country Village would a rave∣nous Wolf, or cruel Bear, that should break into th••••r Town, all the Town would be after them, either to kill them in, or to force them out of it.

* 1.30And since the heare is the thing that God Princi∣pally requires, and that out of it are the Issues of Life, Let us keep the heart with all keeping;* 1.31 and be choice of our Thoughts as of Gods Crown-Jewels.

* 1.32And now finally Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are p••••e, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any ver∣tue, if there be any praise, Think of these things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Evil; thoughts like Devils.
• * 1.2

  In their Ori∣ginal.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 59.7. Prov. 15.26. Hebr. 3.12.
• * 1.4

  Nature, spiri∣tual wicked∣ness. Eph. 6.12. Luke 22.3. Ezek. 18.10. Mat. 23.27. In high places.
• * 1.5

  2 Cor. 10.5.
• * 1.6

  Number, Le∣gions. Mark 5.9. Luke 8.30. Mat. 17.34.
• * 1.7

  Agility.
• * 1.8

  Job 1.7.
• * 1.9

  Eccles. 6.9. Acts 7.39.
• * 1.10

  Vigilancy. 1 Pet. 1.8. Psal. 104.20, 21.
• * 1.11

  Eccles. 2.23. Chap. 5.8.
• * 1.12

  Daniel 4.1.
• * 1.13

  Disturbing in Good. Mat. 13.4. 1 Sam. 1.13.
• * 1.14

  Luke 3.37.
• * 1.15

  Tempting to evil. Math. 4.3. James 1.14.
• * 1.16

  Hose•• 7.6.
• * 1.17

  And then ac∣cusing.
• * 1.18

  Rev. 12.10.
• * 1.19

  Rom. 15.2.
• * 1.20

  And tormen∣ting. Mat. 18.34. Luke 16.25.
• * 1.21

  Yea worse then Devils to us.
• * 1.22

  In themselves.
• * 1.23

  Psalm 14.1.
• * 1.24

  James 2.10.
• * 1.25

  And to us.
• * 1.26

  Hose•• 13.9.
• * 1.27

  John 8.44. Jerem. 7.44. Chap. 9.14. Chap. 11.8. and 13.10.
• * 1.28

  James 1.15.
• * 1.29

  Deut. 22.24, 25. Rom. 7.24.
• * 1.30

  Prov. 23.26.
• * 1.31

  Prov. 4.23. Mal. 3.16, 17.
• * 1.32

  Phil. 4.8.